AP Photo/The Star-Ledger/ Tim FarrellMackenzie Brown, 12, is the first girl in Bayonne Little League history to throw a perfect game. She retired all 18 boys she faced.

There are any number of boys today who wish they could throw like a girl.

That is, they would like to throw like Mackenzie Brown.

Mackenzie, 12, pitched a perfect game in the Bayonne Little League. She retired all 18 boys. It's a rare achievement for a baseball player of any age or gender in any kind of league.

"In like the fourth inning I kind of knew," she said, sounding like her male pro counterparts in the Bronx or Queens. "Then I just tried to keep doing what I was doing and not try to mess it up."

Her feat has drawn national attention, including TV appearances, a highlight reel of her performance on ESPN -- and today she is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Mets and Washington Nationals game at Citi Field.

Glenn Regan, commissioner of the Bayonne Little League, said Mackenzie has kept her feet on the ground as the spotlight raised her profile around the country.

It's always nice when sometime takes success in stride. It's also a pleasure when someone turns conventional wisdom on its head. In this case, a playground taunt has been upended.